I've never been big on the whole 'fitting in at school' thing. Sure, I have my rather large group of friends, but I was never popular or anyone special. I am the pale, horribly skinny, blonde haired girl that is starting sophomore year.
My name is Tris Prior.
My alarm, which happens to be He Is We, my all time favorite band, blares signaling it is time to wake up. Unfortunately, I have a brother who calls being late not being in the class a second after the bell rings, so I have to wake up earlier. It's my first day of being a sophomore, and I actually regret waking up at all. I don't want to see all the new arse holes that are going to be in my class.
"Beatrice! We are going to be late if you don't get up!" Caleb shouts over my alarm. He may be more popular than me, being valedictorian and on the soccer team, but he definitely shows the characteristics of a true nerd. I involuntarily groan, and hoist myself of the bed.
After spending thirty minutes or so getting ready (which drives Caleb crazy; he wants me to be ready in twenty minutes or less) I am ready to go. My style has not changed since freshman year. I wear a tight grey sweater with a blue shirt underneath, black jeans, and white converse's. My signature look.
I hop into Caleb's car with him, since I'm not allowed to drive without an adult yet. He is a couple months older than me, but enough to make him 17 and me 16. I plug in my headphones as we drive to school an hour early.
When we arrive, there is not a soul in sight. There are only the teachers lame cars that are most likely going to get egged within the first two hours of school. That's how it works here. But what are they going to do? Expel a whole school? Unlikely.
"See ya around, Beat Rice," my brother says with a smirk. I scowl. The first day I met Christina, she looked at my schedule and pronounced my name like beat-rice. I just told her to call me Tris, and the name stuck.
I set out to find my locker, knowing it will be next to all of my friends'. I may have threatened the poor lady at the desk for a while before she gave in.
I start cramming my stuff into my locker, along with my mini posters, and slip my hoodie over my head. I hear a whistle to the left of me. I lift my head and immediately my face hardens. "Wear that outfit for me, Stiff? It looks lovely," Four sneers. I shake my head. Why did I have to wear such tight clothes today? I need to buy ones a size bigger.
"You know, you're the one who said there was not much to show, may I remind you?" I say back. I earned the name 'Stiff' from him and his friends concluding that I was built like a boy.
"I'm sure there is something," he says again. I gag, and he doesn't move. Instead, he crams books into the locker. . .
Four leans in really close to my ear, and I can smell the cigarette smoke and coffee on his breath. "This is going to be a fun year Tris," he says. I smile, and I feel him smirk against me. "Yeah," I say. "Cause you've got me on your ass." With that, I leave him standing there and slam my locker shut. Yes, I am still afraid of the things he and his friends do. I've heard of them, and been a victim of one of their more merciful attacks. But I'm sure I can have a little fun with Four.
After all, he is going to be right next to me. All year long.
As soon as the people start filing in, I see Christina bolting towards me in her high heels. I don't know how she does it. She wears a humungous grin. The grin falters. She is pushing her way through the crowd. "Move it! Or I swear I will stick this in your throat and lodge it there!" Christina takes off her heels and holds them up above the heads of the people. They clear a path for her. She runs toward me yet again, and the people fill in the hallway and start their chattering again.
"Tris!" she screams. No point in telling her to be quiet. "I didn't see you all summer! Where have you been?" I feel kind of bad for that actually. "Sorry, Christina. I actually went to soccer camp with Caleb, and went to Music Camp. I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
She shrugs. "Oh well. I'm so happy to see you!" and she embraces me in a hug. I feel another pair of strong arms wrap around me, and they squeeze me so tight that it actually hurts. With my small body, that's easy.
"Yes Stiff! I'm so happy to see you again!" I try to turn around but it's useless. "This year is going to be fabulous!" they squeeze me tighter. "Oh and, you might want to put on a little more weight before we start up again, okay? I don't want skin and bones." I turn around and see Peter giving me a thumbs up. "I love you Trissy!" he shouts over his shoulder, running towards his group.
"I love you too, my little sadistic asshole!" I smile politely at him when he turns around again, and hear laughter from where Christina is standing.
"Wow Tris. I thought this last year, but you're definitely earning the title of 'Biggest Smart Ass , Sophomore Year." Uriah says. I punch him playfully in the gut.
"Hi guys," I grin at Zeke, Shauna, Uriah, Marlene, Christina, and Will. They're the only friends I have. They're pretty much the only people who don't hate me, considering Four's Gang is respected at school. And I'm not respected in Four's Gang.
"Gimme your schedule," Christina demands. I hand it over. "Well, you are in the same classes as me except for Music and Gym, and the rest of us are scattered around with you." She smiles. "Yes Trissy,this year is going to be fabulous!" Christina says, imitating Peter. The whole group is erupting with laughter, and everyone else is staring at us. But we don't care.
I like that about us. We're that group of people who will dance on the lunch tables singing I'm Bringing Sexy Back and not care what anyone else thinks.
My day drags on, and the only interesting thing that happened was Zeke laughing so hard at Uriah saying he was the pretty one, that milk shot out of his nose. That was hilarious.
Better yet, no classes with Four or Peter, or Drew or Molly. This day is going by perfectly! Almost. I left out one detail. Four is a guitar player and a singer..meaning he is in music sixth period. With me.
As I walk into Music, my suspicions were confirmed. I see Four half grinning, half smirking and patting his lap. I raise my eyebrows at him, but look around. There are no more seats.
"Ms. Tori?" I call to the teacher. She is also a tattoo artist and piercer, so I know her personally. "There are no more seats."
I know Tori is going to tease me, but hopefully I'm wrong. "Well Tris, Four seems more than happy to share his seat." Four stops smiling and patting his lap. I blush and take a seat on the floor next to him. Sure, I hate him with a burning passion, but the rest of the people in this class are pot-smoking hippies with a guitar.
"This year is going to be a nightmare," I groan.
"No Stiff; this year is going to be fabulous."